Buena Vista, VA - Southern Virginia University alumnus and assistant golf coach Jarrett Fultz is set to reach one of the pinnacle stages in adaptive golf as he prepares to compete for Team USA at the 2026 Cairns Cup, the premier match-play event in disability golf and the adaptive counterpart to the Ryder Cup.
The prestigious international competition will take place July 11–18, 2026, at the renowned San Roque Golf Club in Spain. Fultz was selected as the first of four players in his disability classification to represent the United States, a remarkable honor that underscores his growth into one of the most respected adaptive golfers in the world.
Fultz has built an impressive competitive résumé since entering the adaptive golf circuit. Currently ranked 63rd worldwide and seventh in his United States classification, he has twice competed in the U.S. Adaptive Open at Pinehurst and has captured multiple state adaptive open titles.
His adaptive golf journey has taken him across the country and around the world, including a memorable trip to England in 2024 to compete in the G4D Championship, one of the most prestigious tournaments in disability golf.
As adaptive golf continues to grow, with several tours across the United States and Europe offering structured competition for a wide range of disabilities, Fultz has become one of the sport's most consistent and influential ambassadors. He has volunteered at adaptive clinics, mentored young golfers, and repeatedly emphasized how the sport fosters community, inclusion, and confidence. His encounters with fellow competitors—such as watching an athlete with one leg hit a 250-yard drive—have strengthened his belief that adaptive golf showcases resilience at its highest level.
The 2025 season has been one of Fultz's strongest as he reached his primary goal of qualifying for the U.S. Adaptive Open at Woodmont Country Club in Rockville, Maryland. Competing at Woodmont, he experienced the full scope of a USGA-run championship, complete with professional-level hospitality, ESPN coverage, and a field of some of the most skilled adaptive golfers in the world.
Throughout the season, he continued to contend at major tournaments nationwide, consistently placing among the top competitors in fields of elite adaptive athletes. His season will conclude with appearances at the Arizona Adaptive Open and the Florida Adaptive Open in December as he prepares for his upcoming opportunity to represent the United States at the Cairns Cup.
Fultz's journey in golf is deeply connected to Southern Virginia University, where he first joined the men's golf program in 2019. He made an immediate impact, earning medalist honors in his very first collegiate event during a dual match with Virginia Wesleyan.
His years as a Knight culminated in a historic conference performance during the 2022-2023 season, and he later transitioned to coaching, becoming an assistant coach for both the men's and women's programs. Now in his third year on staff, he has played a significant role in helping elevate the Knights to new highs and national recognition.
Head Coach Blair Garner credits Fultz as one of the most influential figures in the program's development, describing him as a player and coach who has been pivotal to the team's growth into a nationally ranked contender. Garner notes Fultz's exceptional ball striking, bunker play, communication skills, and ability to guide players in high-pressure moments as central to his value within the program.
Coaching has also shaped Fultz's own competitive perspective. He describes it as a steadying force that has helped him see the game with renewed clarity—one shot at a time. Golf, he says, is never perfect, but coaching reminds him of the resilience required to let go of mistakes and stay present during competition. While he no longer competes weekly as he did in his high school and college years, this shift has allowed him to appreciate his adaptive tournaments even more and to find joy in each opportunity to compete.
For Fultz, golf is both a personal passion and a lifelong pursuit. He credits Southern Virginia University with creating an environment of inclusivity and belonging that prepared him for the adaptive golf world, a community built on shared experience, mutual support, and perseverance. Whether competing, coaching, or volunteering, he embraces the sport's ability to empower individuals and build meaningful connections.
As he looks ahead to representing the United States in Spain at the 2026 Cairns Cup, Fultz carries with him the support of the SVU community, the players he now mentors, and a sport that has given him the opportunity to compete and inspire on an international stage.
For continued coverage of Southern Virginia University golf, visit knightathletics.com or follow @knightmgolf on Instagram.
